Federal Appeals Court Reviews Texas Abortion Law

A federal appeals court is weighing whether the state of Texas can enforce a law that led to the closing of many abortion clinics.

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals didn't indicate how soon it would rule after hearing arguments Monday over a district judge's decision to declare parts of the 2013 law unconstitutional.

Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights sued to block a provision requiring doctors to have admitting privileges near where the abortion is performed. The groups say U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel correctly ruled in October that the provisions place an unconstitutional burden on women's access to abortion.

The 5th Circuit allowed Texas to enforce the law while it appealed the decision.

Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Comments

Add your comment here:

Comments on Facebook

Related Stories

Catholics attending Sunday services around the globe said they were heartened by Pope Francis’ recent remarks that the church has become too focused on "small-minded rules" on hot-button issues like homosexuality, abortion and contraceptives.

Pope Francis offered an olive branch of sorts to the doctrine-minded, conservative wing of the Catholic Church on Friday as he denounced abortions as a symptom of today’s "throw-away culture" and encouraged Catholic doctors to refuse to perform them.